Shortly after the dragon task it had been announced that Hogwarts would be hosting a Yule Ball; the students of the three schools had been all a flutter at the news and looked at each other as though they were different species rather than just different genders; Hermione didn't understand what was happening to them all. Mr Blondie had asked Ginny straight away to be his partner and Fred had asked her to go with him too. Others however had become a bumbling band of baboons; Hermione liked that saying, Professor McGonagall had said it in a dance lesson the other day and she and Fred hadn't been able to contain their giggles. Now they tried to use the sentence every day, to the annoyance of the students and staff within the castle.
"Stop been a Bumbling band of Baboons Ronald; you're dribbling your juice," she scolded the older redhead who was dribbling pumpkin juice all over his uniform, his eyes fixed on a group of blonde witches from one of the other schools in the tournament. Ron flushed maroon, while students nearby giggled, pointing at the flushed boy. Hermione wasn't sure what was so funny, she found his display and lack of table manners rather disgusting actually.
Another time Fred shouted the sentence at Harry who had been stuttering horrendously at a girl; trying to ask her to the ball. Harry had glared at her friend before finally asking his question. They'd watched as the girl shook her head telling Harry she already had a date. Hermione had felt sorry for the bespectacled boy.
"Don't worry Harry, you can always come with me and Fred," she consoled, wrapping her arms around him in a kind hug.
"Erm thanks Hermione, I'll keep that in mind," he told her, patting her head like she was a puppy.
"You will not come with us," Fred glared at the dark-haired boy.
"Freddie, he has no one to go with, be kind," she scolded.
"HEY, DO YOU WANT TO GO TO THE BALL WITH ME," the boy screamed at a passing blonde witch.
"Harry Potter," the girl asked, her large blue eyes wide, radish earrings swinging from her ears.
"Yes, sorry for shouting at you, would you like to go to the ball with me Miss," he trailed off, running his hand through his hair awkwardly.
"Luna Lovegood," she told him in an airy voice, she smiled at him sweetly, "I'd love to go to the ball with you, be careful though the mistletoe is full of Nargle's," she warned before turning and skipping away.
"Bumbling band of baboons," Hermione murmured staring after the blonde woman with wide eyes; she wasn't sure what she thought of her; eccentric yes, crazy possibly, as for Harry he looked suddenly ecstatic.
"Ginny what do you know of Luna Lovegood," he asked the redhead who had been silent throughout the exchange, a maniacal grin upon her face.
"I know she's well out of your league and that if you hurt her, I'll unfortunately have to curse you as she's been my friend since the age of three," Ginny told him seriously.
"Her hair was like a waterfall," he commented.
"Boys are crazy Hermione, remember that when you grow up," Ginny told her, patting Harry on the back, she motioned for her and Fred to follow her, it was dinner time and the delicious smell of succulent food drifted through the school, inviting them to the Great Hall for their evening meal. Hermione hoped they had chocolate eclairs tonight for dessert, she loved eating at the magical school. She also hoped someone else would be a Bumbling Band of Baboons, the saying was ever so fun to say.
